Technique for effective navigation based on user preferences

• US 7,650,234 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Pirtle, John D., Schebesch, Steven W., Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/971,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20080120024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-202, 701117-119, 701207-209, 701/25, 340/988, 340/989
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3617 using user history, behaviour, conditions or preferences, e.g. predicted or inferred from previous use or current movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A navigation device utilizes stored user profiles to navigate a user who may be driving in a vehicle, on foot, or in other mode of transportation. Each user profile corresponds to one of the user'"'"'s personae. For example the user business profile corresponding to the user'"'"'s business persona may be different from the user personal profile corresponding to the user'"'"'s personal persona. The navigation device provides the user with a navigated route, together with information concerning the favorite facilities and events surrounding the navigated route, which satisfy the preferences in a selected user profile. Blockages may also be established using the device to avoid selected areas, or to block transmission of selected information.

Claims

1. A method for navigation using a navigation device which includes a location-sensing element therein, the method comprising:

forming a database storing traffic information for extraction thereof with respect to areas;

receiving data concerning a location of the navigation device which is determined using the location-sensing element;

searching the database for traffic information specific to a coverage area including the location of the navigation device;

receiving a request for planning a route from an origination to a destination;

determining that the coverage area is different from one or more areas in navigation coverage defined at least by the origination and the destination;

searching the database for selected traffic information specific to the one or more areas; and

planning a route to the destination, taking into consideration at least traffic conditions derived from the selected traffic information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is external to the navigation device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the location of the navigation device is defined by GPS coordinates.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation device is used in a vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein road conditions are also taken into consideration in planning the route.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein weather conditions are also taken into consideration in planning the route.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation device includes a display element, and at least part of the planned route is shown on the display element.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein turn-by-turn instructions are communicated via audio media to a user of the navigation device when traversing the planned route.

9. A method for navigation using a navigation device which includes a location-sensing element therein, the method comprising:

forming a database storing weather information for extraction thereof with respect to areas;

receiving data concerning a location of the navigation device which is determined using the location-sensing element;

searching the database for weather information specific to a coverage area including the location of the navigation device;

receiving a request for planning a route from an origination to a destination;

determining that the coverage area is different from one or more areas in navigation coverage defined at least by the origination and the destination;

searching the database for selected weather information specific to the one or more areas; and

planning a route to the destination, taking into consideration at least weather conditions derived from the selected weather information.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the database is external to the navigation device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the location of the navigation device is defined by GPS coordinates.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the navigation device is used in a vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein road conditions are also taken into consideration in planning the route.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein traffic conditions are also taken into consideration in planning the route.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the navigation device includes a display element, and at least part of the planned route is shown on the display element.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein turn-by-turn instructions are communicated via audio media to a user of the navigation device when traversing the planned route.

17. A navigation system for a user traveling in a vehicle, comprising:

a database formed to store traffic information for extraction thereof with respect to areas;

a processing unit for searching the database for traffic information specific to a coverage area including the location of the vehicle; and

an interface for receiving a request for planning a route from an origination to a destination, wherein when it is determined that the coverage area is different from one or more areas in navigation coverage defined at least by the origination and the destination, the processing unit searches the database for selected traffic information specific to the one or more areas, and wherein a route to the destination is planned, taking into consideration at least traffic conditions derived from the selected traffic information.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the location of the vehicle is defined by GPS coordinates.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein road conditions are also taken into consideration in planning the route.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein weather conditions are also taken into consideration in planning the route.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein at least part of the planned route is shown on a display.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein turn-by-turn instructions are communicated via audio media to the user.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the database is external to the vehicle.

24. A navigation system for a user traveling in a vehicle, comprising:

a database formed to store weather information for extraction thereof with respect to areas;

a processing unit for searching the database for weather information specific to a coverage area including the location of the vehicle; and

an interface for receiving a request for planning a route from an origination to a destination, wherein when it is determined that the coverage area is different from one or more areas in navigation coverage defined at least by the origination and the destination, the processing unit searches the database for selected weather information specific to the one or more areas, and wherein a route to the destination is planned, taking into consideration at least traffic conditions derived from the selected weather information.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the location of the vehicle is defined by GPS coordinates.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein road conditions are also taken into consideration in planning the route.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein traffic conditions are also taken into consideration in planning the route.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein at least part of the planned route is shown on a display.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein turn-by-turn instructions are communicated via audio media to the user.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein the database is external to the vehicle.